Skills that Pay: Unpacking Subject-Specific Competencies to Predict Economic Wellbeing

• In Event: Academics, Professional Skills, and Critical Thinking—What Drives Students’ Economic Mobility?

Abstract

Despite the well-documented role of math and English skills in shaping career opportunities and economic advancement, substantial gaps remain in our understanding of how specific, measurable competencies within these subjects (and other subjects) translate to economic wellbeing. This project will fill some of these gaps by exploring how well mastery of specific skills in math, reading, science, and social studies predict long-run outcomes including postsecondary educational attainment and labor market outcomes. Our approach leverages longitudinal student-level data from the state of Maryland’s Longitudinal Data System Center (MLDSC), which provides rich K-12 data, including subscores measuring specific competencies on state standardized exams, linked to postsecondary and workforce data. This study addresses a critical gap in the literature by linking detailed competency data to long-term outcomes. These findings will inform our understanding of the competencies that most strongly influence future academic success and economic mobility.

Author

• George Wayne Zuo, RAND Corporation
  Presenting Author